CVE-2025-68874 identifies a reflected Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Shahjada Visitor Stats Widget, a web analytics tool used to display visitor statistics on websites. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, which allows an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code into web pages dynamically generated by the widget. This flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.5.0. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network without requiring authentication, but it does require user interaction, such as clicking on a maliciously crafted URL. Successful exploitation can lead to execution of arbitrary scripts in the context of the victim’s browser, potentially enabling theft of cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information, as well as manipulation of the displayed content or redirection to malicious sites. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.1, reflecting a high severity due to network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, and a scope change indicating that the vulnerability affects components beyond the initially vulnerable widget. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk to websites using this widget, especially those with high traffic or sensitive user data. The lack of available patches at the time of publication increases the urgency for organizations to implement interim mitigations.

For European organizations, this vulnerability can lead to several adverse impacts. Confidentiality may be compromised through theft of session cookies or personal data, enabling account hijacking or identity theft. Integrity can be affected by unauthorized modification of web page content, potentially damaging brand reputation or misleading users. Availability might be indirectly impacted if attackers use the vulnerability to conduct phishing or malware distribution campaigns, leading to user distrust and potential service disruptions. Organizations relying on the Shahjada Visitor Stats Widget for visitor analytics risk exposure of their users to these attacks. Given the widget’s integration into websites, the attack surface is broad, affecting any web-facing system using the vulnerable versions. This is particularly critical for sectors with stringent data protection requirements under GDPR, such as finance, healthcare, and e-commerce. The reflected nature of the XSS means that attackers must lure users to click malicious links, which can be facilitated through phishing campaigns targeting European users. The scope change in the CVSS vector suggests that the vulnerability may impact components beyond the widget itself, increasing the potential damage.

Organizations should prioritize patching the Shahjada Visitor Stats Widget once an official update is released. Until then, they should implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data processed by the widget to prevent injection of malicious scripts. Employing a robust Content Security Policy (CSP) can significantly reduce the risk by restricting the execution of unauthorized scripts. Web application firewalls (WAFs) can be configured to detect and block typical XSS attack patterns targeting the widget. Additionally, organizations should educate users about the risks of clicking unknown or suspicious links to mitigate the user interaction requirement. Regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on third-party widgets can help identify similar vulnerabilities proactively. Monitoring web traffic for unusual patterns or spikes in error rates related to the widget can provide early warning signs of exploitation attempts. Finally, organizations should consider isolating or sandboxing third-party widgets to limit their ability to affect the broader web application environment.